i heart portraits!

[SoulCapture]

Been shooting with a canon 20d for almost 2 years now. I'm gearing towards being a portrait and fashion photographer. Everything is self taught. Here is my picture enjoy and pls critique. I would absolutely love any advice or tips!!

EXIF
exp - 1/1000 sec @ f/1.8
focal - 50mm
iso - 100
flash - did not fire
lens - 50mm f/1.8 mk11

[graciousness]

It's ok, as a portrait. There's really nothing special or captivating about it. I am saying this because you have mentioned that you are aiming to be a portrait or fashion photographer and if you are heading towards that mode of photography, it is imperative that the shots of people really grab your attention. That is, it's important that you just don't take good photos of people, but you need to put a little bit of vision and creativity into the images.

If you look at the works of the professional photographers in these fields, look at them and ask yourself what sets their work apart from the everyday photographers. Is it because they know how to snap photos well? No, you'll find that it's more than that. They showcase an emotion, energy, character with the surrounding or what they are wearing (fashion). There needs to be something more than just the person standing in front of the camera. There needs to be a persona - an appeal - to the image that makes you want to know the person, be that person, or buy the products they are wearing.

So I hope you don't feel offended if I say that this photo is simply not special and desires for more.

You have to watch out for reflections on glasses. Sometimes, the reflections are so cool that it really adds an impact on the photo, but in this case, it doesn't at all. The reflections are distracting and is taking away from his eyes, which is the most important part of portraiture.

I love your enthusiasm and energy ----- keep going and I hope you don't stop! Keep taking photos - keep reading - keep getting inspired - and we look forward to seeing more of your photos.

Cheers!

[graciousness]

I just need to add something before I forget -

I think it may be good practice that in your next sessions or for a study, to capture expressions on people and or capture a mood in the images, whether it's by way of their faces or creating the tones (by way of colour) in the photos. Keep your sight on their eyes -- that is the heart of portraits.

Cheers!

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by graciousness

I think it may be good practice that in your next sessions or for a study, to capture expressions on people and or capture a mood in the images, whether it's by way of their faces or creating the tones (by way of colour) in the photos.

I'm going to go ahead and disagree on this point. I believe there are two sides to this, not saying you're wrong at all, just that there is more to it.

IF the model is obviously expressing an emotion, that's great, but it's a simplistic way of divining interest.

If the model displays no emotion at all, that vacuum of context, if done properly, can cause the viewer to wonder why. After all, we're used to seeing people smiling, laughing etc.. it's safe and comfortable. The absence of something you expect can be enough to make something uninteresting at first glance, more interesting.

Case in point is arguably the most famous portrait of all, the Mona Lisa. It was the ambiguity and enigmatic nature that gave the portrait it's oomph.

As to the OP, well, I do agree with Graciousness, it just doesn't do much for me. That's not to say you didn't nail certain items. The composition is good, good placement of the model and negative space. I don't like the framing, with the top of his hair chopped off. If you're going to crop closely, it still has to feel balanced, which this doesn't.

Focus seems fine (only looking at this one, didnt go to Flickr), though maybe a little underexposed, a simple curves adjustment would probably go a long way to helping brighten an otherwise dark model..

This is just one of those shots where there isn't anything majorly wrong, but it just doesn;t grab you, precisely because there isnt much wrong with it that catches the eye..

..in fact, the one thing i do like is the reflection in the glasses. Going back to my earlier point, it grabs my interest because I don't expect to see a stark reflection with such clarity there.

Were I working on this image as one fo my own, I would definitely be cropping much closer and playing up that aspect of the shot. Otherwise, it;s a 'perfectly fine', common or garden image.

[SoulCapture]

Thank you very much for the well thought out responses. I do not take any offense; I am actually grateful and I can handle critique very well. I agree that the both of you make a solid point: no X factor. Thanks for noticing the composition and the advice for cropping. Although I am a bit unfamiliar with the "adjusting curves" referencing, I be googling that term. I am take absorb this lesson and succeed in developing a shot that will capture that glamorous factor I see from works of fashion photographers. Keep a look out and I hope you two will critique my future photos.

CHEERS!!!

[graciousness]

[QUOTE=Niresangwa;1235931]I'm going to go ahead and disagree on this point. I believe there are two sides to this, not saying you're wrong at all, just that there is more to it.

IF the model is obviously expressing an emotion, that's great, but it's a simplistic way of divining interest.

If the model displays no emotion at all, that vacuum of context, if done properly, can cause the viewer to wonder why. After all, we're used to seeing people smiling, laughing etc.. it's safe and comfortable. The absence of something you expect can be enough to make something uninteresting at first glance, more interesting.

Case in point is arguably the most famous portrait of all, the Mona Lisa. It was the ambiguity and enigmatic nature that gave the portrait it's oomph.

Ah, the exercise to capturing emotions on faces I suggested is for pure exercise, to train the eyes and composition and for subjects. It doesn't have to be somethign to do with every shot, but as exercise or part of a study/assignment.

The Mona Lisa....a bit of an abstract emotion as one wonders what was in her mind when she was smiling. I do think that this painting had been theorised too much and overthought - it's a nice painting but then they praise it beyond that. It's a nice portrait, but I don't think it's as intriguing or mysterious as everyone praises it to be. Again of course, personal opinion.

But that brings us back to the subject - emotions, characters, mood in a portrait all do spark interest in portraits. Even colour tones or textures still add some depth to an image through processing. It's the step above knowing the technical basics of taking a snap - it's now eyeing for subjects and the vision of the photographer translating onto his work.

Arrrccchhh that sounds wanky. But you know what I mean

This is relevant specially for fashion photography. The character of the model/models posing in shots have to match/highlight the products and the brand they are advertising. Not enough to have a pretty face -- it needs to be the right face with the right 'attitude'.

OP - the eyes, again, especially in modelling and fashion photography, models use their eyes to express.

Anyhoo enough of me flapping Sorry I don't have much technical advice to give you, but Niresangwa had covered that.

Cheers and post your next photo again soon!